Banned pro-Khalistani outfits backed by Pakistan’s ISI—like the Sikhs For Justice—are notorious for raising false narratives of atrocities and making demands that have no resonance on the ground in Punjab. It’s an old ploy, say Indian intelligence officials, and for sometime now it has become an embarrassment for countries like Canada, the US and the UK for allowing these terror groups from operating on its soil. What is worrisome is the deep influence of Pakistan ISI and its terror projects operating in these foreign countries where the Khalistani groups are on a desperate spree to attract attention by indulging in notorious activities.
One such attempt has been exposed ahead of the G20 summit in New Delhi where graffiti of pro-Khalistan slogans came up on the walls of metro stations and public threats were issued to dignitaries. Delhi Police special cell arrested two persons last week in connection with the case. Investigations have shown that the accused had been paid money by SFJ handler Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who has been running a referendum for Khalistan from the US, and was being supported by his close aide in Canada, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Surrey on June 18. Pannun’s another close aide Avtar Khanda died on June 15 in a hospital in London.
The arrested accused, Pritpal Singh, 30, a resident of Faridkot in Punjab, had got in touch with Pannun in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. The monetary assistance being offered by the terror group lured Pritpal who took the money for the treatment of his uncle. The money was transferred through Western Union.
“Pritpal used to receive the money by showing his uncle's Aadhaar card. So far, he has received around Rs 2 lakh from Pannun,’’ said a Delhi police official.
About a month ago, Pannun tasked him with painting pro-Khalistan slogans (graffiti) in Delhi before the G-20 summit. For this purpose, he was offered 7,000 USD, according to the investigators. He got 3,500 USD in advance from Pannun and as per the deal, the rest of the 3,500 USD was to be paid to him after the completion of the task.
Pannun and other Khalistani operatives are desperate and trying to gain attention using the international event to recreate the Khalistan bogey through social media, websites, graffiti and videos, said a security official. Intelligence officials said such repeated attempts by the SFJ and other proscribed outfits have not only exposed the role of the ISI, but also its influence in Canada where at least half a dozen Khalistani operatives are taking shelter at the moment.
“Canadian authorities need to take more action to prevent these groups from using its soil for building a trans national terror- criminal nexus,” said a security official.
The Khalistan menace in Canada also came home to bite the Trudeau administration after a government school in Surrey was chosen by SFJ to conduct a referendum dedicated to Talwinder Singh Parmar, accused by Canadian police of masterminding the 1985 Air India bombing, on September 10. The use of a government school for anti-India activities raised heckles in security circles. It is learnt that New Delhi kept a close watch and monitored the activities closely till the time the event was cancelled. If the event would have taken place it would have put Canada in an embarrassing situation as the first country where government infrastructure was being used for anti-India activities, said a security official.
Ahead of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to India for the G20 summit, the pro-Khalistan bogey would have stuck out like a sore thumb causing much stress to the relations. In the past, Trudeau has faced criticism for being seemingly soft on Khalistani outfits on Canadian soil. Canadian response of allowing freedom of speech on its soil might not go down well at a time when New Delhi has made it clear that national security is paramount in foreign relations as well. While Delhi police is actively deploying security for the G20 event and technical teams are on the job of monitoring social media as well, intelligence and security agencies are on their toes to expose the designs of mischief mongers and terror operatives.